THE Circuit of Wales has announced the venue for next year’s British round of the MotoGP World Championship.
MotoGP will be returning to Donington Park in Leicestershire for the first time since 2009. It had been the home of the event since 1987 with Silverstone having been the host for the past five years.
The partnership with Donington Park will now focus on the promotion of the 2015 MotoGP event and any upgrades the circuit requires to comply with MotoGP World Championship circuit standards.
The news comes after media reports that Silverstone's bosses had criticised the decision to award MotoGP to the planned Rassau site.
It was announced last month that the Circuit of Wales, a £315 million racetrack in Rassau, would host the event from 2016.
Its developers have the right to promote it and choose a location for next year’s Grand Prix because building on the proposed site is not expected to start until later this year or January 2015.
The deal between Dorna, the championship’s commercial rights holders, and the Circuit of Wales is a five-year contract with the option for a further five year extension.
Chris Herring, of the Circuit of Wales, said: “After announcing the long-term MotoGP agreement between Dorna and the Circuit of Wales three weeks ago our priority has been to agree the venue for 2015.
“It is in the interests of everyone, especially the fans, to make a decision as soon as possible and in Donington Park we have a venue that shares our vision for growing MotoGP in the UK.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna CEO, said: “The Circuit of Wales has worked very quickly to secure the best deal for the British race fans and we believe Donington Park will deliver a fantastic race in 2015.
“Donington Park has a long history and has been the scene of some of the most exciting MotoGP races in recent years and we are sure that the extensive works undertaken since it reopened four years ago will guarantee a successful event.”
The date for the 2015 British FIM MotoGP World Championship round is expected to be announced later this month.
The Circuit of Wales is expected to attract an estimated 750,000 visitors a year, and is hoped to generate up to 6,000 jobs
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